NASA Plane Flying Low Over Chicagoland
August 1, 2023 5:03PM CDT

A DC-8 jetliner, to be used to help validate readings taken by global satellites measuring precipitation, sits on the tarmac after its earlier arrival, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, near Tacoma, Wash. Using everything from the customized jetliner to ground radars to four-inch rain gauges, scientists are fanning out across one of the soggiest places in the United States this month to measure raindrops and snowflakes. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Have you seen this plane? Maybe not, but you probably HEARD it!
According to NASA, they are flying the pictured DC-8 at varying altitudes, sometimes very low, which would be very loud if you are near by.
Caught the low-flying @NASA research plane over Chicago today! About 1000ft @ 200mph according to flight aware. #ChicagoScanner #ilwx pic.twitter.com/Xh2vCv6kHw
— George Umbenhauer (@GMaurice182) August 1, 2023
According to reports, the plane is a flying environmental laboratory studying pollution.
https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/nasa-dc-8-worlds-largest-flying-lab-lands-at-wright-patterson-to-study-mega-city-air-pollution/O6J4FVYV2RD2DFSE3INJ4O6DDA/.